Roller screen



w. J. STARR ROLLER SCREEN Dec. 18, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 8, 1949 INVENTOR J, $6612 7! ATIORNEIY W. J. STARR ROLLER SCREEN Dec. 18, 1951 3 3 Q 4 7 a W a a w ,70%.. H m (A N 8 m s w 3 JlNVENTC}? ATTORNEYS w. J. STARR 'ROLLER SCREEN Dec. 18, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Sept. 8, 1949 INVENTOR ATTORNEY5.

Patented Dec. 18, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE a I 1 12,579,159 7 I RoLIJEn SCREEN Winfield SJ. Starr, Philadelphia, Pa.

Application September 8, 1949, Serial No. 114,600

1 The present invention relates to roller screens and-the like for windows.

A purpose of the invention is to provide for more effective locking and tensionin of a roller screen.

A further purpose is to avoid marrin g the material'ofthe roller screen. I

A further purpose is to permit release of the clamping of a pact.

A further purpose is to secure more positive clamping and unclampingof a roller screen.

Further purposes appear in the specification and in the claims.

roller screen 'in case itreceives im- In the drawings I have chosen to illustrate one-T- only of the numerous embodiments in which my invention may appear selecting the forms shown a other positions.

Figure is an end elevation of the gripping strip.

In the drawings like numerals refer to like parts;

My U. S. Patent No. 2,350,200, dated May 30, 1944, for screen holder illustrates a cam for gripping and tensioning a roller-screen at the'side of the screen. The com acts directly 'on' the screen and, although clamping can be'continued' for a considerable time, this device has a tendency to wear and abrade the screen slightly. By the present invention -I obtained more positive clamping and tensioning actionand greatly reduced'the possibility of damage to the screen.

The roller screen 20 may'suitably be of any convenient material such as wire or plastic screening of the character employed on insect screens for windows.

The screen is supported 8 Claims. (01. 160-269) .2 The screen extends down below the roller an when in use will be pulled fully down, passing at both sides through the interior of a vertically extending housing 36 which cooperates with the trim 31 of the window and has an open edge 38 through which the screen extends.

In general the trim provides an adequate back against which the housing can operate, and'itis not generally necessary to provide a back of the housin independent of the trim at the. side of the window.

The housing extends vertically for substantially the full height of the screen to a point.

slightly below the roller. The housing is desirably a sheet metal strip which is somewhat resilient and is provided with a base 4| secured to the window as by screws 42, and a combined shank portion andguiding surface 43 extending toward the center of the Window and suitably curved and desirably semi-circular cam well 44 which forms a bulge or enlarged end running vertically on the front of the housing and an outer lip 45 which defines one side of the open edge. Positioned inside the housing or between the housing and the trim 31, desirably running the full length of the housing, is a resilient sheet metal gripping strip suitably of aluminum alloy,

stainless steel, brass or copper, located in line with the open edge of the housing. When viewed in cross section the gripping strip has a back jaw 46 which is integrally connected by a U-bend 41 with a front jaw 48, the two jaws having an open end 50 through which the screen extends to a position between the jaws. The front jaw 43 is reversely bent at 5| at the end toward the middle of the window, and the reverse bend intermediate its ends deflects toward and into the cam well in a cam hump 52 and then the cam well while the hump 52 enters the cam -well, providing a jaw. cam 54 on the sid toward and wound over a roller 2!, which, except asst herein noted, may; be of the character shown in my patent, or of any character commonlyused as a shade roller. It comprises a drum 22- of any suitable material such as wood, having a dead center pivot 23 in a suitable pivot fitting on the window frame 24, and having a spring operated squared pivotal end or pintle '25, a suitable'squared socket in the window, the end '25 being rotatable. with respect to-the remainder of the roller under the action of the internal winding spring not shown as well known.

the center of the window and a jaw cam 55 on the side remote from the center of the window.

. Preferably the jaw cam 54 toward the center of the window is relatively more abrupt than the jaw cam 55 remote therefrom. I The cam well is occupied by a cam 56 which extends desirably for the full length of the houssemi-circular in its cross section in its inner surface 58.

The edge 60 of the cam toward the The screen at the bottom is secured to a strip 64 which has recesses H. The strip is sprung to engage hooks 12 in the sill 13 of the window, to hold the screen down against the pull of the roller spring where it is not desired to lock the cam at the sides.

In operation it will be understood that in equipping the window for the roller screen of the present invention suitable shade roller fittings or brackets will be placed at the upper part ofv the sash, the gripping strips, cams and housing will be assembled on opposite sides of the window as shown. The hooks l2 will be applied on the sill.

The screen is then assembled on the roller.

"The screen is then preferably rolled up on the roller until only a short length extends beyond "the roller. Screen material should then be placed in the base strip 64.

To insert the bottom strip the roller is mounted in the roller fittings in the window and the bottom strip is applied at the top in the space between the front and back jaws of the gripping 'stripwhile the cam is in the non-locking position as shown in Figure 2.

The screen can then be pulled down, being guided at the sides and between the front and back jaws of the gripping strip. When the screen reaches the bottom it is held by the en-: gagement of the hooks 12 in the recess H of the bottom strip.

. To stretch the screen and lock the sides, the handles 63 are pulled toward the center of the window. This causes the near edge 60 of the own tomove from the non-locking position of Figure 2 to the locked position of Figure 3, at which position the edge 60 engages the near jaw of the gripping strip, compresses together the jaws of the, gripping strip against the trim 3l and, pressing against the near cam 54, forces the gripping strip bodily outward to the position of Figure 3, stretching the screen laterall and locking and tensioning it.

In achieving the gripping or looking position. the heel 53 of the gripping strip rides along the guiding surface 43 of the housing, guiding the unlocking cam 55 outwardly until it jams at 13 in Figure 3 against the near corner of the-guiding surface. of the U jams against the window 24. Due to the friction of the engaging parts, and the fact jthat the cam has moved beyond its center and 54, the structure will sustain the position of Fig-- the cam back to the neutral position of Figure 2 At the same time the outer end 41 and roll the screen up to the top and pull it down again.

For the purpose of unlocking the handles on the cams they are moved outward to a position as shown in Figure 4. At this position the outer pointed end 6! penetrates between the cam well and the outer jaw cam 55, prying the unlocking cam 55 inwardly, and at the same time relievi g, th P $$1 of he 19 3.1 9 e so of 10 =thecam55 on the locking. cam 54. 1 The ripp strip then moves outwardly while the heel is guided against the guiding surface 53, releasing the grip on the screen and allowing gripping to move bodily to the center of the window as shown in Figure2. It will thus be evident that when the gripping strip is tightened it closes and then pulls the screenoutwardly, while when it is released it opens and moves inwardly. The range of motion is shown in th difference in positions between Figures 2 and 3. 1

It will be evident'bycomparing Figures 2 and 3 that the housing, being preferably of light gage sheet material, deflects forwardly and by its spring imparts grippingpressure on the gripping strip and on the cam to hold the parts in the locking position. This feature is preferable, although the device is operative without this'resilience of the housing. 7

In view, of my invention and disclosure variations and modifications to meet individual whim or particular need will doubtless become evident to others skilled in the art, to obtain all or part of the benefits of my invention without copy- 'ing the structure shown, and I, therefore, claim 35al1 such insofar as they fall within the reasonable spirit and scope of my claims.

Having thus described my invention what I claim .as'newand desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A holder for locking and tensioning a roller screen comprisingqa vertically extending housing having an open edge and. having a cam well jcurved in horizontal section, a vertically extending curved cam in the cam well, and a resilient gripping strip in line with the open edge having jaws open toward the open edge and located atone side of the cam well. I

2. A holder for locking and tensioning a roller screen comprising a verticallyextending' housing having an open edge, having a guiding face in line with the open edge and having a cam well at one side curved in horizontal section, a vertically extending curved hollow cam in the cam well, and a resilient gripping strip in line with the open edge, having jaws open toward the open edge, located at one side of the cam well and having inner and-outer ja'w cams on the jaw adjoining the cam well.

3. A holder for locking and tensioning a roller 60 screen comprising a vertically extending housing having in horizontal section an open edge, a cam well at one side curved in horizontal sec- "ti-on'and a 'guiding'face'on the portion of the housing remote from the open edge, a vertically extending curved hollow cam in the cam well, and a unitary sheet metal resilient gripping strip inline with the open edge, having U-shaped jaws open toward the open edge, located at one side of the cam well, and having onthe jaw adjacent the cam well a'reverse bend having ahump provided with outer and inner jaw cam surfaces extending into thecam well and cooperating'with the edges of the cam. f

4. :Ah'older for locking and tensioning a roller 75 screen comprising a vertically extending housing having in horizontal section an open edge, a cam well at one side curved in horizontal section and a guiding face portion on the portion of the housing remote from the open edge, a vertically extending curved hollow cam in the cam well, a reverse bend on said holder terminating in a spring heel engaging the guiding face in one position.

5. A holder for locking and tensioning a roller screen comprising a vertically extending housing having in horizontal section an open edge, a cam well at one side curved in horizontal section and a guiding face portion on the portion of the housing remote from the open edge, a vertically extending curved hollow cam in the cam well, having a curved outer vertical edge and a sharp inner vertical edge.

6. A unitary sheet metal gripping strip for a roller screen comprising U-jaws one of whichhas a reverse bend near its outer edge, a reverse bend portion extending outside of the jaw having the reverse bend and a cam hump on the reverse bend.

7. A unitary sheet metal gripping strip for a roller screen comprising U-jaws, a reverse bend on one of the jaws, a cam hump on the reverse bend and a spring heel beyond the cam hump.

8. A unitary sheet metal gripping strip for a roller screen comprising U-jaws, a reverse bend on one of the jaws and a cam hump on the reverse bend having a relatively abruptly inclined outer jaw cam and a relatively gradually inclined inner jaw cam.

WINFIELD J. STARR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 170,277 Lake Nov. 23, 1875 696,373 Hutchison Mar. 25, 1902 710,515 Robertson Oct. 7, 1902 1,067,075 Swanson July 8, 1913 1,202,288 Hartshorn Oct. 24, 1916 1,207,943 Lemon Dec. 12, 1916 1,387,452 Chapin Aug. 16, 1921 1,673,326 Goldsmith June 12, 1928 2,035,079 Kress Mar. 24, 1936 2,110,048 May Mar. 1, 1938 2,234,106 Bowerman Mar. 4, 1941 2,350,200 Starr May 30, 1944 

